Hagerstown was founded in 1762 by Jonathan Hager, a gunsmith, fur trader, farmer and politician. After settling he quickly increased his wealth and expanded his land holdings acquiring over 10,000 acres which he used to lay out plans for the town. It was originally named Elizabethtowne, in honor of his wife, but was later changed to Hagerstown in his honor.

Hagerstown was situated at the crossroads of the “Warrior Trading Path,” the Eastern Native American North / South Trading Route, which is modern day Route 11 and the First National Road, now Route 40. The town grew quickly and was a prized location for transportation of all kinds from covered wagon to nearby river navigation.

The nickname “Hub City” comes from the way all the railroad lines running into Hagerstown resembled the spokes of a wagon wheel on a map.